Caution: This is a purely amateur effort.
It is not an exhaustive set of links on the topics involved. The shopping
links may not contain the best or cheapest sources of information and gear,
just places I happened to run into while looking for something.
I haven't completely checked out and cannot vouch for any of these links.
Some of this is specific to the D.C. Metropolitan area or the University
of Maryland. A lot is not up to date.

CellGuru comparison chart of prepaid cell plans. Some prepaid plans give you
cell phone service for as little as $2 - $3 / month. But you pay extra if you make
or receive too many calls, receive too many messages, or use too much Internet
(especially video).
The Best Deals On Prepaid Mobile Data Similar
PagePlus Cellular I have used it. A Great service; everything works;
great technical support; uses the Verizon service network; also sells cheap used compatible phones. I
highly recommend it. The only issue is that they drop support on most cell phones
that are more than two or three years old (a problem shared by most cell phone
services).
To forward Verizon or PagePlus voice mail to Google Voice, dial all
3 below on your Verizon or PagePlus phone:
*71[Google Voice number] (Conditional forwarding:
transfers to Google Voice if Verizon phone is busy or unanswered)
*90[Google Voice number] (Busy Transfer:
transfers to Google Voice if Verizon phone is busy)
*92[Google Voice number] (No Answer Transfer:
transfers to Google voice unanswered calls
LifeLink "Free" (government paid) cell phone and broadband Internet service
providers for low income people. Someone I know tried
one provider (Safelink), had unresolved technical support issues, and
gave up. Perhaps other individuals will fair better. As with prepaid,
costs extra if you use it too much.
"Free" Broadband Internet servicesNote: As with free and prepaid cell phone service, you pay extra if you use it too much. This surprises and makes some people very upset.
Freedompop A "Free" cell phone and wireless data service (after device
purchase) available to everyone.
"Freedompop's free wireless would be cool if it wasn't so shady"
someone who got upset when they found out "free" had limits.
"FreedomPop free plan is a bit dishonest"; another such personNetZero
Another "free" wireless Internet service
$9.95/month Comcast (wired) Internet EssentialsFree computer to computer/phone services (there are many others)
(are these spyware?)
Yahoo Messenger with voice (Also has 2 cent/minute link to
land line)
Skype (I use. Erratic connection quality, but usually works.)
MagicJack A Skype competitor (I have tried it; Used to be reliable, except you
won't hear the first first few seconds of calls; but sometimes people hear an echo when you speak, or you lose a few seconds, or connection goes bad altogether.
netTALK Another competitor (not tried by me.)
Google Voice,
About Google Voice You get a permanent free phone number to use with the google
voice app, or through your home computer, which can also forward
calls to other phone numbers, and take voice mail. You can also make outgoing calls
by using the Google Hangouts dialer, or by
calling your Google voice number from another phone. A bit complicated to set
up, but a great Free service.
PhoneScoop.com Info on cell phone features
A cell phone repair center 2538 Virginia Ave, NW, Washington, DC;
near Watergate Hotel, 202-298-6104, 240-464-9091, 443-889-6665
SatPhoneStore
GMPCS Satellite phones
Global Comsat Phone
www.donotcall.gov Do Not Call advertisers list
NoMoRobo - Stop robocalls and telemarketers

Caution I've recently had bad experiences ordering stuff from
China. All the sellers had 97%+ positive feedback from eBay. Many others now
tell me that you should only buy from 99.6%+ positive feedback sellers
listed by eBay as top rated sellers - and read all the negative feedback. If
anyone says they didn't get what they ordered, or that the seller delayed
and delayed, or told them not to give a negative review, or had bad
English - stay away from them. Make sure they have been selling through eBay
for a few years, with 10,000 or more sales. Oddly enough, this didn't used
to be true. I wish the Chinese government regulated merchants more
carefully.